Fox House

Prominent Dance Hall Operator and original owner/builder of
the Surf Ballroom, Carl J Fox, lived across the street from the
Surf Ballroom for many years until his passing in 1966. He built
the house in 1948 out of necessity-the Fox family was living
above the original Surf Ballroom at the time of the devastating
fire that claimed the structure on April 20, 1947. The home
remained in the Fox family until 2017, when purchased by the
Snyder family of Clear Lake.

Lovingly restored, this vintage home features many unique
furnishings and characteristics. Much like the Surf Ballroom, it
is as though time stood still in the home – many artifacts
having remained here throughout the years, giving visitors a
glimpse of life in the 1940s and 1950s.

Tours of the Fox House are available by appointment only, and
usually as a part of our Deluxe Tours.

More about Carl J. Fox

Carl J. Fox was born Carl John Fuchs on December 18, 1895 in
Laurens, Iowa to Charles and Anna Fuchs. He and two of his
brothers had the spelling of their last name changed from Fuchs
to Fox “as a convenience to them and to others.” His family
stayed in Laurens for a number of years, later moving to Lyle,
Minnesota. Carl quit school in the 7th grade to take care of the
family farm. As one of 6 brothers and 4 sisters, Carl had the
ability to run the family farm successfully, however, he decided
that it wasn’t for him. Instead, he went into the roller skating
business, much to his father’s displeasure. His first portable
roller skating ring was in Sutherland, Iowa, and resembled a
circus tent with a portable floor. Before Carl moved on from the
rink business, he had expanded to 93 locations.

Carl also worked in the amusement park industry, and later, the
ballroom and dance hall industry. With borrowed funds, he built
the original Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake in 1933, operating the
venue until 1946. Additionally, Carl built two sister ballrooms
– The Terp Ballroom in Austin, MN (1937) and The Prom Ballroom
in St. Paul, MN (1941). To ensure the bands would come, he would
often fly them down from Chicago with his own aircraft. He also
would take the bands out in his wooden speed boat (The Surf) and
take them around the lake. This special treatment made the bands
feel special, and as a result he made many friends in the music
industry. Many big name bands came back year after year because
of this, putting the Surf in a circuit of “must play” stops in
the Midwest. Carl truly enjoyed seeing people have a good time.

Many times, people have asked why Clear Lake was chosen to
build the Surf. Simply put, it was the people. It is the only
place that Carl and his wife wanted to live.

After retiring from the ballroom business, Carl dabbled and
invested in other fields – bowling alleys, retail stores, and at
the time of his passing, he was President of H & H
Manufacturing Co., builders of restaurant furnishings. Carl was
married to Emma Emerick in 1918, and were the parents to one
daughter, Maxine.